Physical ergonomics is the best-known part of ergonomics, where human anatomy and physiology are considered when planning work, work positions and the work environment. Despite its familiarity, it is also often neglected. The workspaces are often insufficient, and the rush leads to the wrong kind of business sequences. For example, improperly assisting a customer in tight spaces in a hurry can cause serious injuries to the employee.
Occupational accidents in the social and health sector, and especially in private social and health services, have been on the rise in recent years. This is a worrisome phenomenon and it is important to cooperatively find solutions on how to reverse the trend of work accidents. The focus must be on the identification, prevention and risk management of occupational health hazards typical for the sector.
The social and health sector network, Sotergo, emphasizes that when examining occupational accidents, the focus must be on working life orientation and the measures must be aimed at workplaces. Work is viewed as a whole, which means managing physical, mental, and social load factors, the effect of work methods, workspaces and other environmental factors. Physical, cognitive, and organizational ergonomics are considered when planning work and the work environment.
Physical ergonomics is the best-known part of ergonomics, where human anatomy and physiology are considered when planning work, work positions and the work environment. Despite its familiarity, it is also often neglected. The workspaces are often insufficient, and the rush leads to the wrong kind of business sequences. For example, improperly assisting a customer in tight spaces in a hurry can cause serious injuries to the employee.
Cognitive ergonomic stakes care of mental processes. Work requires everyone to think, observe, remember, reason and make decisions. When planning work and the work environment, it is necessary to consider how to reduce brain load and stress during the working day. Constant interruptions at work lead to a load on the brain. A stressed and mentally burdened employee may make judgment errors at work, which may lead to a safety risk.
Organizational ergonomics aims for a well-functioning work community and working work processes. Employees know their own work best, so the participation of employees in the planning of work and work processes improves the flow of work, teamwork and, therefore, well-being at work. When an employee feels that he is a significant part of his work community and feels that he is heard, the interest in taking responsibility for common goals increases. This is a very important part of developing a culture of safety in the work community.
Vocational education, orientation at workplaces, guidance and training are of great importance in the development of occupational safety, as the most typical occupational accidents in the social and health care sector occur when assisting customers/patients. The Ergonomics Card® training for patient transfers provides skills for developing safe and smooth work practices and patient transfers. For this reason, it should be a mandatory part for those working in the competence requirements field.
Sotergo is a national cooperative body that participates in the development of occupational safety, occupational health and safety, occupational well-being, occupational healthcare and working life in the social and health sector. It consists of representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Board of Education, the Occupational Safety and Health Fund, the Institute of Occupational Health, the Center for Occupational Safety, municipal and private employer and employee organizations in the social and health sector, and other external experts. Sotergo's operations are supervised by the Board of the Occupational Safety and Health Center.
Sotego's mission is to gather and transmit information about ergonomic methods that promote the health and safety of staff, customers and patients, and to strengthen ergonomics expertise as part of safety management in the social and health sector.
Kaija Ojanperä
Expert, social and health sector
Occupational Safety Center
